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Multiple sclerosis can be a particularly debilitating disorder
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because your body essentially attacks itself. But you can learn to cope during attacks.
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So, what causes multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease in which
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your body’s immune system eats away at the protective sheath that covers your nerves.
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The disorder disrupts communication between your brain and the rest of your body,
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meaning your nerve signals slow down or stop. We don’t know exactly why this happens.
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The most common thought is that a virus or gene defect, or both, are to blame.
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Environmental factors may even play a role.
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We do know that the disorder affects more women than men, that you may get the disorder
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if you have a family history of MS, and that you are at higher risk
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if you live in a part of the world where MS is more common.
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It’s typically diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, but we see the disorder at any age.
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Now you may ask, how do you know you have multiple sclerosis?
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Symptoms of MS can vary widely from person to person because the location
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and severity of each attack can be different. Episodes may last for days, weeks, or months.
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You may even have long periods where you have no symptoms. We call this remission.
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Because MS may damage nerves in any part of the brain or spinal cord,
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you may have symptoms in many parts of the body. You may have muscle problems,
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including loss of balance, muscle spasms, numbness, trouble moving your arms or legs,
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even trouble walking. You may have bowel and bladder problems, such as constipation,
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trouble urinating, or a frequent urge to urinate. You may have double vision, eye pain,
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or uncontrolled eye movements. You will probably be tired a lot,
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and it’s often worse in the late afternoon. And those are just a few of the many possible symptoms of MS.
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Since symptoms of MS can mimic those of other nervous system disorders, your doctor will
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want to rule those out. Your doctor may suspect MS if you have trouble with two different parts
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of your central nervous system (such as abnormal reflexes) at two different times.
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A neurological exam may show you have reduced function in one area of your body,
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or it may be spread over many parts of your body. You may have abnormal reflexes,
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decreased ability to move a part of your body, a loss of sensation.
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An eye exam might show abnormal pupil responses, changes in your visual field, or trouble seeing.
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There is no known cure for MS, so your doctor will focus on therapies to slow down the disorder,
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to control your symptoms and help you maintain a normal quality of life. Your doctor can prescribe
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different medicines to help with this. You may have to take several medications.
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Life expectancy with MS can be normal, or almost normal. Most people with MS continue
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to walk and function at work with minimal disability for 20 or more years.
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The amount of disability and discomfort can depend on how often you have attacks,
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on how bad they are, and what part of the central nervous system is affected by each attack.
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Most people return to normal or near-normal function between attacks.
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But, over time, many people with MS will need a wheelchair.
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To help you maintain a normal quality of life, your doctor may suggest physical therapy,
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speech therapy, occupational therapy, and support groups, depending on your needs.
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Starting an exercise program early in the course of your disorder,
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eating right, and getting enough rest can also help.